Starbucks makes biggest menu change in more than 40 years

We all love coffee. And we all love being able to customize our coffee order to our exact liking. Well, today (January 9) Starbucks will start allowing you to take the customization one step further with the launch of their new Blonde Espresso.

Created by a team of master blenders and roasters, Starbucks Blonde Espresso brings together beans from Latin America and East Africa, roasted to the peak of their flavor to showcase the coffee’s balanced, subtle sweetness.

The arrival of the Blonde Espresso marks the first time the company has introduced a new core espresso option in the United States in more than 40 years. Customers will now be able to order any handcrafted espresso beverage with their choice of “Starbucks Signature” or “Starbucks Blonde” espresso, including Starbucks Caffe Latte, Cappuccino, Flat White, Macchiato and Americano beverages.

“We set the standard for a dark, boldly roasted coffee and in this case, we broke a few of our own rules by taking a lighter approach to espresso which created a bright taste with sweet citrus notes and a smooth body,” said Andrew Linnemann, vice president of Global Coffee for Starbucks. “We are really proud of the roast and think customers are going to love experimenting with it."

The demand for espresso beverages is on the rise with the National Coffee Association reporting in 2017 that nearly 25 percent of past-day daily coffee drinkers choose espresso. So there was no better time than now for Starbucks to introduce a new espresso option for their customers.

Starbucks Blonde Espresso is also available in pods for the Verismo System, and joins Starbucks portfolio of lighter roast options including Blonde Roast coffees, which were introduced in 2012.

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